My fitness level is absolute zero and I still did OK. If you need anything, theyll have a solution. They dropped us off right at our guesthouse in Valbone, which was an absolute dreamy cabin surrounded by the mountains. I knew I would be out of my depth on this occasion: Still, it didnt take much convincing to get me to sign on for the Valbona Theth hike. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Travelling Balkans Site Powered by Pix & Hue. Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward. What is the toilet situation along the trail? After spending over a month island hopping in Greece, I only had eyes for those mountains. The heat up here can be brutal, especially as the day wears on and you start to feel the fatigue. Are there any? Official Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Albania. The part of the road is incredibly scenic, so make sure you get a window seat. Introduction; Day 1: Airport - Shkoder. The airport is connected with direct lines and daily flights throughout Europe, operating both in summer and winter. Thanks for all the good information. Shkoder Hotels with Parking Shkoder Hotels with a Pool Pet Friendly Hotels in Shkoder. Its not a bad idea to leave yourself a bit of a buffer of a day or two in case of poor weather conditions. keep in mind the road is still fairly narrow for . So yeah, to be fair, everything was kind of a surprise. Like I mentioned earlier, the hostel I stayed at also organized pretty much everything for me. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Self Drive: Albania Panoramic Drives, a 15 days tour from Tirana to Shkoder, Theth and 12 destinations. If you'd like them to arrange your transfer, see them at the reception the night before, and you'll have your seat in no time. Personally, because of the remote location and risk of falling (especially in the loose rock sections), I would not feel comfortable trekking alone. After living in Albania for two years and exploring nearly all the country, I finally made it to Theth and wow, it took my breath away. Ill run through some of the common questions concerning the Valbona Theth trek and offer my best pieces of advice for making the most of your time in the Albanian Alps. I highly recommend hiking to the blue eye (3 hours one way) and the Theth waterfall which is around 45mins-1 hour walk from Theth. Planning to do the trek in June 2020, after discovering last year it was closed in April. The Komani Lake ferry (necessary to get from Shkoder to Valbona and a highlight in itself) only runs for a short season, usually from 10 April to 2 November. Most people recommend having a medium level of fitness to do the hike. Tickets cost 800 lek per person. Finally, it's easier to organise transport back to Shkoder from Theth on the fly. This part can feel like it drags on, especially towards the end when the trail gets super rocky and steep. Kakavije (Grecce) Gjirokaster Fier Tirane Shkoder Theth. Wow!! Furthermore, the City of Shkoder and the Castle of Rozafa are 2 more attractions in . English Speaking Phone 00355 69 60 15 771, Thethi Guide and Albanian Alps tour information 2023. Walking Poles (optional, but great for the rocky way down). The entire area is otherworldly, and this amazing adventure belongs at the top of your Albania bucket list. Reserve. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Most of the way youll be walking on stone paths that are relatively flat and even. We had a few hours before it got too hot, and by the time the sun started beating down us, we were in the shady downhill stretch of the hike. The roads are extremely bumpy and theres a lot of steep and slippery parts to the road. And again, it was absolutely amazing. Great questions. This is fabulous! Some people at our guesthouse were carrying poles, boots and other fancy trekking paraphernalia, none of which I had with me. Theth is pretty spread out (though not to the same extent as Valbona), with guesthouses and camping grounds all along the river. You MUST have a 44 to visit Theth, a normal car will not do. Discover insider tips, itinerary inspiration, and all the best things to see, do and experience in Albania! Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. The most popular way to get to Theth is from Shkoder, which is a city in the north of Albania, and a very beautiful one at that! Theyll cook meals for you and know all the best things to do in the area. Did you talk with anyone who had done the same? Thanks for your lovely blog and posting. Heres a quick summary of my top 5 takeaways. I will abstain from an answer, but lets just say a warm beer at the mountain pass brought me very little satisfaction. If you have all your luggage with you, an alternative option is to travel to either Valbona or Theth, hike to Valbona Peak, then return to your base camp. Qafe Morine (Kosovo) Kukes Milot Shkoder Theth. I recommend doing the reverse and trekking from Valbona to Theth. By proceeding, you accept the use of cookies in accordance with our. Official start times are : From Tirana to Koman we start at 05:00am. There were plenty of hiking trails that you could connect to straight from the guesthouse. There are 93+ hotels available in Theth. If so, are they western style seated types? Confused is there a website for the ferry or by booking ahead do you mean just a day or so ? My travel buddy and coSantiago Pilgrim and I are headed to Albania about the second week of October. The glorious meadow even sounds like a good goal for me. Anything you can do to maximise your time in that area. My husband might make it to the peak and I may not .. but we will both return. It was great for us to see it done as we went with normal car, so we were not sure if we can reach Theth based on the info we found on internet. In reality though we might head there in June with a 14 month old child. Youre staying with families who have lived in the area their entire lives. We were lucky we had that packed lunch, otherwise we would have gone hungry. Youve inspired me to try it. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. That way you can just carry the bare essentials on the hike. It costs 10 euros, or about 1200 lek for the three hour journey. Great thanks. There was a lot we had to figure out for ourselves. The first thing you need to consider when planning the Valbona Theth trek is what time of year to go. I plan to carry him for most parts of the journey. $198.77. I recommend leaving your luggage in Shkoder as you have to pass through there to get the ferry anyway. Some travel restrictions are being lifted in Albania. The Highways in Albania are the central state and main transport network in Albania.The motorways and expressways are both part of the national road network. Hi Andrea, thats great to hear! Finally, its easier to organise transport back to Shkoder from Theth on the fly. Unfortunately, there isnt a lot of places to pull over and take pictures but its a beautiful drive even if you cannot stop. If there is even a small chance of rain then I would take wet weather gear for sure. Prices start at Rp1372500 per night. The trail starts pretty flat for the first half hour or so. The bottom line is that the trek can be as long or as short as you want. Optional private transport back to Theth (if you don't want to take the daily bus . (Its also possible to book a transfer from Tirana bus station for 1400 lek.). Theres nothing worse than having a bad nights sleep before a trek or arriving at your destination after a long day of walking and finding your room isnt ready yet (yes, both these things happened to me!). Make sure to bring enough sunscreen to keep you protected, as well as a hat for extra shade. Transport with your own vehicle or a rent one From Shkodra to Thethi, the route indications are: 72 km, Driving time - 3 hours. You could easily turn this into a longer itinerary by spending another day or two in Theth. Explore the Best of Albanian Alps and Accursed Mountains in a 2 Days tour of Theth and Shkoder from Tirana. Even if theyre closed, the hose will still be running. Follow my adventures through the Caucasus, the Balkans, Southeast Asia and beyond as I inspire you to fill your own travels with colour, culture and creativity. Chances are you will share your seat with some homemade bread the true Balkan way! How much would that typically be and how long does it take? The owners were some of the kindest people Ive ever met. We spotted three grass snakes (non-poisonous) and a small, unidentified mammal. Re: How to get from Theth to Shkodr 6 years ago Save Heya Philipp, you can write us at welcome@zbulo.org for details, a 4x4 ride starts from 60 for the 3h drive to Shkoder. Where to stay in Shkoder Accommodation IN Shkoder The Wanderers Hostel - Shkoder If youve booked everything through The Wanderers Hostel, youll have pickup waiting for you. The trek surpassed all my expectations and will go down as one of my top travel experiences in Albania. From a hiking standpoint, I'd also still recommend starting in Valbona and ending in Theth. Many thanks for all the detailed information, really useful to us as were planning our trip to Albania! There is 1 way to get from Shkodr to Theth by car Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. Rome2rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Trust me, Im as stubborn as it gets for doing everything on my own to save a little money. It is very helpful! Rome2rio uses cookies to help personalize content and show you personalised ads. I wanted to check whether there are any specific points in the route where we are expected to climb using our hands or use hands as support (both during ascent and descent). Otherwise yes, its still worth doing Valbona for the ferry! Explore the Lock-In Tower in Theth, and learn about the long history of Blood Feuds in Albania. My adventures are entirely self-funded, so any show of support is greatly appreciated. The route isnt marked on Google Maps, but you can use Maps.Me if you want to. Learn more. Kapshtice (Grecce) Korce Elbasan Tirane Shkoder Theth. But wow, was it way better than I imagined. Youll be a lot more exposed to the elements, so if youre hiking during midday, the heat can become brutal. Getting from Shkoder to Theth This is certainly easier than the Shkoder to Valbona journey although more boring and sickness-inducing with winding roads and a lack of stunning views en route. Subscribe to my newsletter to get your copy instantly. Getting to Valbona from Shkoder takes more time and involves more transfers (van-ferry-van). Hope you enjoyed the hike! Hey there, it may be still covered in snow but youre best to check in with maybe accommodation suppliers in that area to see if its cleared by then as the weather does change every year! The Complete Travel Guide to Chacahua, Oaxaca | Mexico, The Best Party Destinations In Mexico | The Partying Traveler, The Complete Guide to Visiting Xochimilco | Mexico City, The Best Travel Destinations to Visit in Morocco | 2023, The Backpackers Travel Guide to Essaouira, Morocco | 2023, The Backpackers Travel Guide to Marrakech | Morocco, The Ultimate Backpackers Guide to Traveling in Georgia, The Backpackers Travel Guide to Barcelona, Spain | 2023, The Ultimate Guide to Nightlife in Prague | 2022, The Backpacker's Guide to Puerto Escondido, Mexico. All Rights Reserved. Starting in Theth and hiking to Valbona is the more popular route. Because we were travelling in Albania for more than a month, we bought a local sim card in Shkoder. Rome2rio makes travelling from Shkodr to Theth easy. Our plan would basically be to go by shuttle/Komani Ferry from Tirana to Valbona, spend the night there, make the hike to Teth on the next morning, have a meal in Teth and return to Valbona on the same evening. Learn more about me here. There's a lot more to do in this village compared to Valbone. so a regular sedan can make it all the way to the end. Do you think this is doable? Its really hard to say without knowing the weather conditions. Albania Itinerary: 2 Weeks to Explore the Highlights of the Country. There arent really any places to swim on the route, so dont bother wearing bathers (although you might want to pack them if youre going to the Blue Eye in Theth). Thank you for all the information you have provided. Usually, you can leave a bag with your accommodation supplier in Shkoder before doing the hike, so you dont have to hike with all your stuff. A man popped out of his house right on queue and showed us the way back to the trail. Your email address will not be published. Find all the transport options for your trip from Shkodr to Theth right here. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Stay overnight in Shkoder. A local guide could probably show you some lesser-known spots and narrate the journey. There is no direct way to travel between Valbona and Theth by road. Everything youll need can be provided by the guesthouses. Limited international flights leaving Albania began to resume from June 15. You can hire a mule to carry larger backpacks (we saw a few people doing this), but I personally think its overkill. Are hiking shoes a must have for the trek or can we use regular trainers ? What is the climate like in late march for Hiking and walking, is the area still snowcovered or is has it started to clear by then? And of course, a backpack that wont rip open. The ferry ride takes 2.5 hours and finishes at Fierza. Besides that, Theth is all nature. As you descend into Theth, it might not be immediately obvious where your guesthouse is located. Thanks for the rest of the information which was very very useful. Theres a great tour that you can do from Shkoder that takes you to the village of Theth and tour of the church, blood tower, the canyon and Waterfall of Grunasi. If there is heavy rainfall, it might not be possible to do the trek. I wouldnt advise amateaur trekkers to hike in the snow. The water is meltwater and safe to drink. Honestly, if youre trekking in good weather in summer, you dont need any of it. There is a van that leaves from Shkoder at 7 am and costs 10 per person. There are lots of guesthouses in both Valbona and Theth, but I highly recommend you read the reviews and choose wisely. It tastes delicious and is naturally icy cold. ( pick-up from hotel ) Here are all the extra services we offer. And do one-way trek to other side. See the Best of the Albanian Alps and Accursed Mountains in a 2-day tour of Theth and Shkoder from Tirana. It will then take you to a van just outside the city which will take you all the way to Theth. When we arrived in Valbona, we were under the impression that we could wake up the next morning and just start walking from our guesthouse. Im glad you found my advice helpful! A refillable water bottle, a light jacket and sun protection gear are all essential. Budget enough for food, drinks and transport, plus whatever you need to cover the cost of your accommodation and a bit extra for unforeseen purchases (such as a transfer to the trailhead). Thank you, The views here are absolutely epic. Hi Abraham, great to hear that! So lets take a virtual tour to Theth for any of the options: Traveling by car. Briefly, the trek can be divided into five chapters: Yes, the way is marked. I dont think its possible to sleep somewhere along the way, unless some purpose-built accommodations have popped up since I was there. For travel planning advice, please refer to our Rome2rio Coronavirus information page . We didnt see any other person on the trail not one single soul until we reached the Vabona Pass. Thank you for useful info! Times are above. Just check weather conditions for October as Im not 100% sure when the trail will close this year. If you dont have a guesthouse pre-booked (tsk tsk! Thank you Ashley If you have your own car, youll definitely need to be organised ahead of time as the ferries only have enough room for a couple of vehicles. It looks like a beautiful part of the world so Id hate to miss out on seeing it. Push through for the final few kilometers and youll be rewarded with the wonderful views from the village of Theth. There is 1 way to get from Theth to Shkodr by car Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. I recommend avoiding peak season (July/August) if you can, and opting for June or September shoulder season instead. These are prominent and appear as often as every 50 metres on either end of the trail (although they are more dispersed as you near Valbona Peak). Trip duration: 2,5 hours one wayMinibus Ticket Price: 15 Eur/ Person one way, English Speaking Phone 00355 69 60 15 771, Thethi Guide and Albanian Alps tour information 2023. There is widespread community transmission globally. Its safe to drink the tap water in both Valbona and Theth as well. Its up to you of course but I think you should go for it! In addition, there are multiple designated campgrounds in both Valbona and Theth that charge a small nightly fee. Im Emily, an Australian journalist and photographer living in beautiful Kutaisi, Georgia. Thanks for asking this I will add a note to the post. Ive had my eye on it since 2017 and finally going to do it next summer and cannot wait. These are the two places I stayed at in Valbone and Theth. For a 44 the road is great fun! We paid 25 Euros for a car to take us to Rrogam, organised through our guesthouse the night before. I was fully expecting to struggle with the trek, but it wasnt as difficult as I anticipated. If you get lucky there might be shared vehicles leaving but I wouldn't count on it. This post may contain affiliate links. Once you arrive into Theth and your accommodation supplier (check out the best hotels in Theth here), then make sure you organise a shuttle to pick you up the next day. We are located in the heart of trails cross of which you can visit the whole area of Albanian Alps. About this activity Free cancellation Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund Reserve now & pay later Beautiful hiking trails, a river to dive into, an endless views of the Albanian Alps everywhere you look. Thanks for taking the time to write such a detailed post! in one of the coffee places or any other weather protected place? Getting back to Shkoder from Theth is easy by comparison (van only). Also a good opportunity to support the local economy. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. I highly recommend you download that before the hike because it gives you offline maps and the correct paths for the hike. We are all quite fit but since with a child you never know their moods I wanted to ask if anyone knows: would it be possible in worst case to sleep anywhere on the way e.g. From Shokder, youll need to take a bus to Lake Komani, then take the ferry, and then get transportation to Valbona. Bookings can be made through the official website, Komani Lake Ferry Berisha. I just had a look at Lake Shala beautiful! 5. The views here were nothing short of breathtaking. This means skipping the first part of the hike through the open riverbed (some of the toughest terrain, incidentally) but it also saves you having to walk along the highway and it shaves off 2 to 4 hours of extra slog. You should absolutely spend a couple of nights in Shkoder if you can. Tirana - 2 nights. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "aed89f797d37662949d6db19ef56f4a8" );document.getElementById("g1a5e7aece").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *. I have seen two other postings on this. What is the Valbona Theth trek actually like on the ground? Please take enough cash with you for the time you are staying there. Valbone is very spread out, so where youre staying and where you start can add a few kilometers to the journey.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thepartyingtraveler_com-banner-1','ezslot_3',129,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepartyingtraveler_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thepartyingtraveler_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',129,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thepartyingtraveler_com-banner-1-0_1'); .banner-1-multi-129{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. If you dont feel like spending the night in Theth, its possible for you to finish up early and then head straight back to Shkoder. Hi Anita, These cookies do not store any personal information. Domestic travel is restricted within Albania due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Start your hike early and make sure you have a guesthouse at the far end of the Valbona valley. Thank you so much for this detailed post! The road distance is 72.6 km. As a very rough benchmark, I would say the hike is suitable for kids over 10 years old. Ive only been sunburnt once in my life, but I never want to feel that pain ever again. These three guesthouses are clean, comfortable, and managed by excellent hosts. Enjoy included accommodation, meals, and all transportation, including ferry tickets. From there, its another one hour drive by minivan to Valbona. May I ask what would be your advice? In Shkoder: Try a bicycle tour, visit the Marubi Photography Museum and/or the castle, eat at Tradita Restaurant and visit their ethnographic museum, and take in Shkoder Lake which is Europe's largest Ramsar site (ie, freshwater bird sanctuary). Expand All. The weather was warm and a little hazy.

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